surround

1 of 2

verb

sur·​round sə-ˈrau̇nd 

surrounded; surrounding; surrounds

transitive verb

1

a(1)

: to enclose on all sides : envelop

the crowd surrounded her

(2)

: to enclose so as to cut off communication or retreat : invest entry 2

b

: to form or be a member of the entourage of

flatterers who surround the king

c

: to constitute part of the environment of

surrounded by poverty

d

: to extend around the margin or edge of : encircle

a wall surrounds the old city

2

: to cause to be surrounded by something

surrounded himself with friends

surround

2 of 2

noun

: something (such as a border or ambient environment) that surrounds

… from urban centre to rural surround.

—Emrys Jones

Synonyms of surround

Verb

• encircle
• encompass
• circle
• embrace
• ring

Noun

• surroundings
• environment
• atmosphere
• environs
• climate
• context

Examples of surround in a Sentence

Verb

A wall surrounds the old city.

They had the suspect surrounded.

She was suddenly surrounded by a crowd of excited fans.

There's a lot of uncertainty surrounding the decision.

His departure was surrounded by secrecy.

Noun

the vast, featureless surround of the desert was strangely appealing to him

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Look to the east, west and south and we are surrounded by states — Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri — that have opted in to the new federal scholarship program. — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 20 Sep. 2026

Ed Sheeran addressed the controversy surrounding Macklemore’s removal from his Loop Tour on Saturday night, speaking from the stage at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field during his first concert since the rapper was dropped from the trek. — Anna Tingley, Variety, 20 Sep. 2026

Noun

The kit includes a 30-inch soundbar, a pair of wireless surround speakers, and a wireless subwoofer, with Dolby Atmos support for spatial audio, a rarity at this price point. — Brad Bourque, The Verge, 17 Sep. 2026

To winterize hydrangeas, wrap them in burlap or make a wire surround and stuff the inside with straw or another insulating material. — Barbara Gillette, The Spruce, 9 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, to flood, inundate, from Anglo-French surunder, from Late Latin superundare, to overflow, from Latin super- + unda wave; influenced in meaning by round entry 5 — more at water

First Known Use

Verb

circa 1616, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Noun

1893, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing surround

• surround oneself with (someone or something)
• surround sound

Rhymes for surround

• abound
• aground
• around
• astound
• background
• campground
• clothbound
• confound
• earthbound
• eastbound
• expound
• fairground

Kids Definition

surround

1 of 2 verb

sur·​round sə-ˈrau̇nd 

: to enclose on all sides : encircle

surround

2 of 2 noun

: something (as a border) that surrounds